EASTER = HOPE
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Introduction
Introduction
Today we celebrate the Good News that we trust in a God who is alive. He’s not dead and because of that truth He’s not distant.
We all know that Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus. But we may not know why the resurrection is so important.
For many of us, the death and resurrection of Jesus is mostly about dealing with our sin problem. That’s true, but only in part.
The death of Jesus dealt with our sin problem. That means our sin problem is “finished”.
But the resurrection goes beyond sin and accomplishes something more than forgiveness.
Paul’s Gospel
Paul’s Gospel
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
The Gospel is the only way we...
Stand (w/purpose in a fallen world).
Are being saved (from sin’s power).
Hold fast (endure in faith).
Stand = ἵσταμαι (histamai) - to remain firmly in place with a purpose
Being Saved = σῴζω (sōzō) - being delivered, kept safe
Hold Fast = κατέχω (katechō) - to continue trusting
For many Christians the Gospel is about Jesus dying and being raised to get us into heaven. But according to Paul, the Gospel is all about THIS life.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
“I delivered to you as of first importance...”
Question: Is the Gospel of first importance in your life?
A Simple Gospel Outline:
Christ died for sins - so we die to sins.
Christ was buried - to prove He died.
Christ was raised - so we are raised.
Christ appeared - we will appear w/Him.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
This was Paul’s proof: 500+ saw Jesus alive and some of them were still alive when He wrote 1 Corinthians. It’s Paul’s way of saying, “If you don’t believe me, go ask the eye-witnesses.”
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul knows who he used to be, and he rests in God’s grace.
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Apparently, some of the Corinthians believed that Jesus was resurrected, but don’t believe in the future resurrection of the people of God. Why would they believe that?
The Greeks were educated in Plato who taught that the physical and the spiritual are completely separate. Therefore, these Corinthians believed that when we die our soul/spirit goes to a spiritual place forever - no need for a body.
This is where our modern view of going to heaven forever after we die comes from. We’ve become convinced that our soul will go to heaven and stay there forever, but that’s unbiblical.
Paul says that (Platonic philosophy) is a complete deal-breaker. The Gospel without a future resurrection of God’s people is NOT the Gospel of Scripture.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then we are waisting our time preaching and believing the Gospel.
If there is no future resurrection for us, then there wasn’t a resurrection for Jesus either.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
No Resurrection = No Hope
Faith in God is pointless.
We are still defeated by sin.
Those who die are dead forever.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Firstfruits = meaning he is the first to be resurrected with a new kind of body - and we will have that kind of body
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Just like we all die because of Adam, we will all be resurrected because of Jesus.
At His Coming = we will be resurrected when Jesus returns to renew creation and set all things right
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Then comes the end = The end of what? - The end of the current way of the fallen world.
Have you ever wondered when all this will end?
For the last 2,000+ years, Jesus is slowly expanding His Kingdom and defeating His enemies. When He’s done, He will return and renew all creation.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Jesus defeated sin and spiritual death at the cross, but by His resurrection He also defeated physical death for us.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Because of Jesus’ death, our physical death is now a blessing.
In the new creation, there will be no more death at all.
Jesus died for our sin to make us right with God.
Jesus was raised to give us resurrection.
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Question: Why do we need to be resurrected?
Answer: We need a new kind of body because of where we’re headed, and it’s not heaven - it’s a renewed earth.
The New Creation
The New Creation
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
The hope of the resurrection: We have a trustworthy Father who is making all things new - including you.
